Improvement in wood pavements



W. W. BALLARD.

' WOODPAVBMBNT.

No. 105,292. Patented July 12.1870.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. BALLARD, OF ELMIRA, N EV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN WOOD PAVEMEN'ITS..v

Specification farming part-of Letters Patent No. 105,292, dated July 12,1870.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. `BALLARD,

of Elmira, in the county of Ghemung and State ofNew York, have inventedrcertain new and .useful Improvements in Wood Pavements; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this application,

My invention has for its object the production of a wedge-shaped paving-block, so formed at or near its base that when the blocks are placed in contact with each other in a pavement they will firmly interlock and prevent vlany possibility of a verticalv movement; and

my invention `consists in taking off a slight portion of one corner of the block at its base i in aline about parallel with the -oppositebevel ofthe block, thus forming `an obtuse angle on detail plan views of two of the blocks as they leave' the splitting-saws.

To enable those skilled to make vand use my improved blocks, te., I will proceed to describe the same, referring by letters to the accompanying drawing, similar letters denoting like parts in the several views.

A represents the ordinary wedge-shaped block, having Aone of its acute angles or base corners cut away in a line about parallel with the other beveled side of the block, thus forming an obtuse angle at B. The opposite base .corner is cut away so as to form a depressed angle or cavity, C, which will exactly coincide with and fit over the angle B, so that in laying the` pavement one row -of blocks is simply placed in perfect contact with another, and

' thereby key or lock one another against any possible vertical displacement.

The curb-blocks are formed without any ke ing angles, to enable the others to be remove and such. other like blocks may be placed at such points as may be deemed convenient or necessary, though-I prefer to simply use the curb-blocks.

These improved blocks are adapted more particularly for the construction of that class vof pavements where no board foundation is used, though they may be used with great advantage in other kinds ofpavements.

In the class of pavements to which these *blocksare particularly applicable the great disadvantage that exists is in the liability ot one or morev blocks settling or being forced down below .the .others, thus leaving depressions upon the face of the street, rendering it uneven and forming receptacles for the accumulation of decaying matter. This disadvantage is completely and perfectly overcome by my invention, as every block is keyed in linesI parallel and at right angles to the curb, so thatI the pressure which might happen to be exerted upon any one block is equally distributed vto those next adjacent; or, in other words, a pavement is formed having one solid intactl base, and, at the same time, 'capable of being taken up block by block. It will thus be seen that,'upon the principle of the arch, the pressure, no matter how great, upon the faceof the pavement is distributed throughout a lvery great extent of the road.

The wedge-shaped spaces between the blocks are,.of course, filled in the usual manner with concrete.-

It has always been desirable to abolish and do away with the expensive wood iiooring or foundation, for the reason that this is the first part of the pavement attacked by decay. It causes the whole thing to vibrate, and it is an impediment to the easy removal of sections of the pavement. Builders, however, have not been enabled to discard the same for the reasons hereinbefore set forth-wiz., that the blocks would settle or be forced down upon the earth foundation, leaving depressions upon the face -of the pavement.

The mode by which my improved blocks are formed constitutes no part of my invention, as any mechanic will naturally resort to the simplest and mo'st economical of the very many plans known or suggested-one, for instance, being the use of two extra saws or cutters at the time the blocks are being split, without extra. handling.

I have, however, shown iu the drawing two Ways in which the cuts are made, which will fully illustrate to one skilled4 that the lumber out out is virtually of no im*- portanee in quantity and less in value, as the Wedge-shaped space is proportionately lessened, and likewise the concrete.

Having described the construction :md advantages of my improved pavement 'a.i1d.b1ock,l

what l cla-im as new,Y and 'desire tovsecuro by Letters Patent, is-

A wood pavement formed of wedge-shaped blocks, constructed to 1n terloek and support each other, substantiollyin the manner and VVit-n esses:

WM. C. MGINTIRE, C. C. WILSON. 

